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Chicago Fire manager Gregg Berhalter has made no secret of the MLS club's ambition to secure the signature of free-agent Robert Lewandowski this summer.
Lewandowski bid farewell to Barcelona at the conclusion of a triumphant 2025–26 campaign for the Blaugrana, who successfully defended their La Liga crown with relative ease.
The Polish forward, 37, is firmly in the latter stages of his career and saw his role diminish in Catalonia despite netting 42 goals across all competitions the previous season. He accumulated nearly 1,000 fewer minutes in La Liga this term, with Ferran Torres frequently taking precedence. Lewandowski managed just 19 goals—his lowest scoring output since the 2010–11 campaign.
Nevertheless, the veteran leaves with a remarkable Barça legacy, having scored 120 goals in 193 outings and claimed three La Liga titles.
Chicago Fire Publicly Confirm Robert Lewandowski Interest
The decision that Lewandowski would leave Barcelona upon the expiration of his contract in June was reached relatively late in the 2025–26 season. The departure leaves Barça with a pressing need for a center forward as they pursue a third straight Spanish top-flight title, though his exit does relieve the club of a substantial wage commitment.
With retirement not yet on his radar, Lewandowski is poised to step away from Europe's elite stage and embrace a fresh challenge, potentially in MLS. The Chicago Fire have been strongly linked with a move for the legendary striker, and Berhalter, the former USMNT boss, has openly declared the club's intention to bring him in.
"I can speak openly because he is no longer a Barcelona player, and he is someone we are looking to sign," Berhalter stated in comments reported by Polish media (via MARCA).
Negotiations between the MLS club and Lewandowski's representatives reportedly began in December, but have intensified in recent weeks as it became apparent the striker would not be continuing at Barça.
"We have been in contact with Robert Lewandowski and those who represent him. I'm certain a player of his caliber has other options available, but our dialogue has been consistent and very encouraging," Berhalter added.
Robert Lewandowski Signing Would Be Major Win for Chicago Fire
Injury concerns and minor physical issues forced Flick to manage Lewandowski's workload carefully this season. At 37, he is no longer the force he once was, yet his instinct in front of goal remains intact.
The previous season, the Polish international went toe-to-toe with Kylian Mbappé in the Pichichi Trophy race, netting 27 times. Reduced playing time saw that tally drop to 14 this campaign.
He could have stayed in Catalonia but has chosen to seek a new challenge instead. Lewandowski appears to be eyeing the less demanding schedule of MLS, having acknowledged earlier this month his openness to "an option in a lower league," and there is no understating what a significant acquisition the 37-year-old would represent for the Chicago Fire.
Berhalter described the prospect of landing Lewandowski as "extraordinary" for the league and for the city of Chicago, which is home to a large Polish community.
"We already have a high-quality attacking unit, but adding a footballer of his experience, leadership, and goal-scoring pedigree can only elevate us further," the Fire's head coach remarked.
The club has reached the MLS Cup playoffs just once since 2017, but has gotten off to a strong start in their 2026 campaign. Chicago currently sit third in the Eastern Conference heading into the mid-season break, and could be reinforced by one of the greatest goalscorers in the history of the sport when action resumes.